Pages

Friday, 5 January 2018

Open Letter To The Odisha State Govt. Regarding Rasagola

Dear Odisha State Govt.,

As we have seen, the media across the world has given excessive coverage to "Banglar Rasogolla" and most of the reports about 'Rosogolla' GI (Geographical Indication) tag have beenbiased and misleading. Having spoken to your ministers, secretaries and government officers, and being unsure of any action being taken by you, I solicit your answers to my following questions regarding Rasagola:

Many of us want to know- What are you doing for the Odisha Rasagola cause?

Why didn't you react when the "Banglar Rasogolla" was first featured in the GI Journal#99 on July 14, 2017 (just like you immediately reacted on November 14, 2017 after "Banglar Rasogolla" was awarded the tag) ?

Didn't you know that the Journal#99 with "Banglar Rasogolla" had been made available in the public domain as per rule 41(1) of Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Rules, 2002, and that the product i.e. "Banglar Rasogolla" would be registered with GI if there is no 'Notice of Opposition' and if the application is not challenged by anyone within the three months period?

Do you know how proactive the other states are for filing their respective GI applications?

Who or what stopped you from filing/helping stakeholders to file GI application for Odisha Rasagola in 2015?

Why did you take up the Rasagola GI issue in 2015 if you had no intention to file any GI application?

From July 14-November 13 2017, when the "Banglar Rasogolla" application was in public domain, having been advertised in the GI Journal#99, why didn't you raise any opposition to the incorrect technical description?

When will you set up an IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) cell that will work 24X7 for such cause?

Can you please help facilitate the GI application filing of the scores of GI-tag-deserving Odisha products including Rasagola ASAP?

When will you file an objection to "Banglar Rasogolla" under Section-27 of the GI Act?

Do you realize that to do so, there's just about one month and one week left now for the deadline?

Request you to please take interest for our Rasagola fast, else I'm afraid, a similar sorry fate awaits Odisha Rasagola and the rest of the GI-status-worthy products of Odisha...

Looking forward to your "swift" positive action,

Bande Utkala Janani

Regards,A proud daughter of Odisha and a Rasagola and Odisha lover

Be serious, accountable & support stakeholders.
Learn lessons from other state govts & take prompt action.
If Odisha Govt. doesn't want to facilitate, we expect clear explanation/communication of such intention.
We want answers to our Qns:https://t.co/nzeuWUrFTy#RasagolaProject

No update from Govt. about Odisha Rasagola though it's a new year. .
Hope 2018 will usher swift action & something to cheer.
Lots of Odisha products waiting for the GI-application,
Time,effort,resources,implementation reqd for recognitionhttps://t.co/tqxdvWPzXb#RasagolaProject